Taiwan industrial production hits record high driven by AI demand

Taiwan's industrial and manufacturing production indices reached record highs for the month of September, marking 31 consecutive months of positive growth. According to data from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the industrial production index rose 19.17% year-on-year to 140.76, while the manufacturing production index increased 20.21% to 143.31.

The surge was primarily driven by the information and electronic industries, which saw a 27.42% year-on-year increase. Key growth areas included electronic components, fueled by high-performance computing and AI demand, and computer, electronic, and optical products, which grew by 45.92% due to global investments in AI infrastructure and semiconductor equipment.

Other sectors also showed strength, including machinery equipment (up 26.02%) and automotive parts (up 2.35%). While chemical materials saw a slight decline of 4.29%, the overall outlook remains positive. Officials expect manufacturing growth to continue into October, supported by year-end seasonal demand and ongoing semiconductor supply chain momentum.